Instead of a high priced sniper, here are two trades the Habs need to make.

Go after a big tough D-man who can log lots of minutes and play with Hamrlik on the second pairing. Trade Ryder, O’Byrne, Chipchura and Kostopolous to Phoenix for N. Boynton and F. Sjostrom. Then Trade for one of the best face-off men in the league M. Sillinger. Trade Begin, Dandenault, Gorges and the rights to Perezhogin to NYI for Sillinger, T. Hunter and R. Martinek. Then we look like this Goal: Huet, Price D: Komisarek/Markov, Boynton/Hamrlik, Martinek/Bouillon 7’th man Briseboise. Up Front : Kostitsyn/Plecanek/Kovalev, Higgins/Koivu/Sjostrom, Latendresse/Sillinger/Kostitsyn, Lapierre/Smolinski/Hunter. Throw in Milroy and Locke if needed be to make these deals. Also this leaves us M. Streit to trade to NYR as they badly need a puck moving D-man ask for P. Parenteau to play in Hamilton. Also I would make a minor league trade J. Gleed for F. Lessard and then sign Lessard to a contract and call him up as our extra forward to dress when we need a tough guy. When all is said and done we would have one of the best defense in the league with four good solid lines. And sit Smolinski if we need a tough guy dressed and go with Lessard/Lapierre/Hunter as the fourth line.